SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The South Dakota State Women’s Basketball Team had their first game of the Summit League Tournament on Thursday, but it was a former SDSU star that has been creating conversation among fans.
Former Jackrabbit Myah Selland was not just beloved for her play on the court, but also for her efforts off the court.
As the co-founder of the non-profit Her Turn, which seeks to empower and provide more opportunities for girls and young women in sports, she felt compelled to post her thoughts on social media about the efforts to “protect women’s sports” through legislation.
Myah Selland has always been passionate about involvement in women’s sports, especially the game she’s known for.
Now she finds herself at a Jackrabbit game in the stands for the first time since graduating, part of a crowd that supported her during every play.
Selland is still involved in sports and while she has her platform as a role model to many young girls in the state, she wants to leave her mark.
She opened up about what she believes will help women’s sports more than barring transgender athletes like recent legislation in Congress.
“Women’s sports right now is in an unbelievable spot. We have a lot of great momentum and so it’s disappointing to kind of see it used in a way to marginalize a different community,” Selland said.
Selland said that transgender athletes make up a fraction of the women’s sports landscape and that exclusion would do more harm than good.
“There’s a lot of really good science and policy and research about how we can make this really, really fair for our trans athletes and for our cisgender athletes and so that’s the kind of conversation that I think we should be having around it,” Selland said.
Selland pointed to other avenues where the public can lift up girls in sports. She said showing up, investing in media coverage and creating more opportunities for girls to get involved will make a difference.
She also hopes the government will rethink the effort to eliminate the Department of Education.
“That’s the enforcing body for Title IX. Our Title IX regulations protect our girls in sports, so if we eliminate the body that enforces those regulations, that is a threat to girls sports,” Selland said.
While she has received some disappointing comments or direct messages since her post, she has been overwhelmed by the respectful, thoughtful and productive conversation.
“It seems to be a hard topic, it’s very divisive, it’s very partisan and it doesn’t have to be. I think just the overwhelming responses to it kind of speaks that we’re a lot closer than our leaders want us to feel,” Selland expressed.
Selland also has concerns about how policing body types might be invasive and online harassment could increase.
She hopes the momentum of the discourse surrounding women’s sports continues and she’s grateful for how the state of South Dakota supports their female athletes.
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